Help Please w/ BDS 4 Rack

SmokeyDrew · August 28, 2010, 12:24:21 PM

Hello all,

I am hoping that someone can help me. I am brand new to smoking and I am seasoning my BDS 4 rack as we speak. However, I am trying to use the Oven Temp portion and when I turn that on along with the smoking portion, I am unable to get the oven temp from the zero (0) reading. Am I doing something wrong? With just the smoke side running, the box is at about 165 F. Please help.

Thanks in advance,

Drew

KyNola · August 28, 2010, 12:55:31 PM

Drew,
This is a long shot but try unplugging and replugging the connector cable a few times and see if that makes a difference. Another thought, are you pressing the buttons in hard enough? Sometimes they need a little extra pressure.

SmokeyDrew · August 28, 2010, 01:10:10 PM

Thanks for the response KyNola,

I have tried unplugging once and then replugging. The smoker side where it reads oven meat temp only temp is lit up. On the other side, the oven side, it turns on. The timer works fine. It is just the temperature that wont work. The unit beeps when I hit the buttons. It however just sits at zero.

Defective unit?

KyNola · August 28, 2010, 01:22:25 PM

One other thing to try. Don't worry, this won't void your warranty. Take your smoke generator off the tower and turn it upside down. Remove all of the screws around the perimeter. Don't remove the screws in the middle. Open the generator, it opens clamshell style and check for loose connections. If that doesn't fix the problem, I would call Brian at Bradley.

Some other folks may come along with other suggestions too.

Hope this solves the problem for you.

pensrock · August 28, 2010, 01:45:28 PM

You need to press 'Oven Temp Set' first then the up arrow to increase the set temperature.

SmokeyDrew · August 28, 2010, 02:05:29 PM

KyNola,

Tried your fix. Unfortunately it did not work.

Pensrock,

I have tried without the smoke side running. With the smoke side running. I am hitting the Oven Temp Set and see it flashing. I then try both the up and down arrows. The unit beeps but it stays at zero. Also, on the smoke side, where it says Oven Meat Temp, the Oven and Temp light up, but the Meat never does.

Pissed off because I purchased a 6lbs brisket and 4 pork loins which are currently seasoning and are going to be wasted for tomorrow.

Wish Bradley had Cust. Serv. on Saturdays when most people probably smoke on Sat and Sun?

FML.

Drew

KyNola · August 28, 2010, 02:10:43 PM

The Oven Meat Temp is a nonfunctioning item on the Bradley. Not even sure why it's on there.

Is the heating element in the tower glowing red or is it dead?

SmokeyDrew · August 28, 2010, 02:15:26 PM

I did not check during the seasoning process. I seasoned for 60 minutes and the unit got to about 170 F. I did not look to see if the burning element was red or not.

KyNola · August 28, 2010, 02:18:02 PM

You might want to check that. You might still be able to salvage a smoke tomorrow if the element is heating.

SmokeyDrew · August 28, 2010, 02:24:31 PM

The Oven Meat Temp is actually what was showing the 170 F. I am guessing it is more the actual temp in the box?

KyNola · August 28, 2010, 02:35:25 PM

Yes. Sorry, wasn't thinking clearly. The temp on the left is the temp inside the tower. The temp setting on the right side is what you set the oven to heat at. If you got to 170 and no higher, it sounds like the heating element is not functioning. Not sure where you're located but if it's a hot summer day where you are, the puck burner is capable of getting the tower that hot. Let's try one more thing. The power cord that goes from the smoker generator to the tower. Make sure it is FIRMLY plugged into both ends.

Let's see if that helps.

SmokeyDrew · August 28, 2010, 02:43:57 PM

The seasoning was only for 60 minutes and I opened up the door a few times to try to lower the heat as the unit was supposed to be around 150 F for the seasoning. It may have gone higher if I left the door open and had the unit in the sun instead of the shade.

KyNola · August 28, 2010, 02:51:39 PM

No doubt it would have gone higher if the door had been closed the entire time. Sounds like the heating element is functioning. I'm all out of "fixes".

Hopefully someone else will come along with a "fix" that will get you up and running. Otherwise, call Bradley on Monday. Until then if that thing will heat up to 200 or so, you could smoke the meat and then move it to your house oven to finish the cook time.

Sorry I couldn't be of any assistance to you.

SmokeyDrew · August 28, 2010, 02:58:51 PM

KyNola,

Please don't apologize. You have been great. Thank you for your time and help.

Drew

Smokeville · August 31, 2010, 05:22:43 AM

So, SmokeyDrew, what was the outcome?